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The MLCC is busy looking for details on when it sent staff members to Jets games — but it turns out all they had to do was ask the Canadian Taxpayers Federation.

In the legislature on Monday, liquor control act Minister Jim Rondeau said he couldn't provide specifics about the free tickets, as MLCC staff were busy pulling the details together.

“We were surprised,” said CTF Prairie Director Craig. “We received the details five weeks ago from the MLCC.”

The Crown corporation's response to Craig's freedom of information request shows that of the 440 promotional tickets, four went to Minister Rondeau’s office, 66 went to the Board, 188 went to head office staff, 108 to store managers, 62 to MLCC executives and eight went to the MLCC Social Club.

Just four were given to charity.

The MLCC says they got the tickets in exchange for advertising.

“It’s unclear why the MLCC has to advertise at the MTS Centre in the first place,” added Craig. “They have a monopoly on liquor sales in the province. But if the government stubbornly insists on wasting public dollars on advertising, it’s good to hear they’re at least going to start giving the tickets they receive to community groups.”

But in the Legislature Tuesday, Manitoba PC MLA Ron Schuler asked why the tickets had to be covered up in the first place.

“It is bad enough that Greg Selinger and the NDP break election promises, break election laws, use the civil service for political purposes, stack crown corporation boards with political donors and give a patronage appointment to the NDP’s own auditor,” Schuler said. “Now we see Greg Selinger’s ministers have been using the Manitoba Liquor Control Commission as a private ticket operation. No wonder people can’t trust this NDP government.”

The CTF's FIPPA response was dated March 30, 2012 — over a month ago.

“Jim Rondeau is either misleading the public and the Legislative Assembly, or he’s too incompetent to know what is happening in his own portfolio,” added Schuler. “It’s another example of the arrogance of Greg Selinger and this NDP government."

On Monday, Rondeau told MLAs that “We will get the member the information shortly, but, as I said, we will provide the information in due course. But the staff has been working very, very hard on the multiple issues in front of them.”